Well



A. T. BEAZLEY ET AL WELL Filed April 9. 1925 Z 6 Q 1 5: 5 a uni: n g i I: l] XD v A 3 1 Z0 INVENTOR i; W w BY HIS ATTORNEYS Patented May 18, 1926.

warren STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR T. BEAZLEY, OF TAMPICO, AND NICHOLAS O. WATSON, OF PUERTO MEXICO,

v MEXICO.

WELL.

Application filed April s, 1923. Serial No. 630,689.

can be quickly and surely put intoopera tion to enable wells to be held in control in case of a blow-out. v i

Another object of our invention is to provide in an apparatus of the character referred to an improved device for holding the drilling tools elevated from the bottom of the well to prevent the same from be-.

coming frozen in the formation at the bottom of the well.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear more fully in the following detailed description and appended claims.

The accompanying drawings forming part of this specification illustrate one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings v Fig. 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of the said embodiment of the invention, showing the parts in position for drilling.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the parts being shown in position for effecting a seal between the drilling means and the casing head in case of pressures which are not exceedingly high,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts in position for effecting the desired seal in connection with very high pressures and for supporting the drill in elevated position.

Referring to Fig. 1, the well casing 1 has secured thereon a master gate valve 2 to the top of which is secured a T 8, the side branch of which communicates with a pipe or conduit at by which the returns from the well are carried off. The valve 5 serves to 5 control the flow through the pipe or conduit 4:. T'o the top of the T 3 is secured the body or shell 6 of the casing head. The

body or shell 6 is secured by clamps 7 and,

anchor rods 8 to the casing 1.

A casing head closure in the nature of a breech block 9 is desirably secured to the body 6. The body 6 and the breech block 9 are, as shown, secured together by an interrupted threaded connection as is common with breech blocks, thereby enabling the breech block to be secured firmly in place with respect to the body 6 by a fraction of a rotation thereof. A stop pin or pins 9 may be provided to limit the rotation of the breech block with respect to the body 6, To permit the ready rotation of the breech block it is provided with opposite recesses 10 adapted to receive suitable rods or handles. 'To insure a ti ht seal between the breech block 9 and t e body 6, these parts are provided as at 11 with finished contacting surfaces, the body 6 being also preferably provided adjacent these surfaces with a recess 12 containing suitable packing material 14. An annular projection 15 on the breech block projects down into the recess 12 in sealing engagement with the packing material 14:. Arranged above the breech block 9 and normally supported thereby is a nut 16 which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The, drilling means shown include in addition to the stem 17 towhich rotation is imparted by the rotating table 18, the nipple 19 detachably secured to the lower end of the stem 17 and the drill stem proper 20, a sealing device or attachment 21 which, as shown, is detachably secured between the nipple 19 and the drill stem 20. All of these parts as well as the tools (not shown) carried at the bottom of the stem 20 are hollow so that, as'is customary in rotary drilling, a suitable supply of mud ma be pumped through them to the bottom 0- the well from the pump connection 22 connected to the upper part of the stem 17. The latter may be of any suitable construction to permit vertical movement thereof and rotation thereof by the table 18. For example, it may be what i's practically known 100 as the Kelly joint. The stem 17, nipple 19 and the drill stem 20 are freel movable throlgh the breech block and t e nut 16,

but e sealin attachment-21 has an enlar ement as s own at 24 which is adapted to r against the breech block to effect breech block, the material 25, as shown, contacting with the tapered lower portion of the bore of the breech block practically alon a circumferential line. The diameter of t e enlargement 24 should be such as to allow a sufiiciently large passa e for the well returns between the said en argement and the well casing. I

The upper end of the attachment 21 is provided with an interrupted thread 26 on which the nut 16 is'adapted to be threaded by a fraction of a rotation, the nut being provided with opposite recesses 27 adapted to receive operating rods or handles to facilitate the rotation thereof. W en it is desired to secure a ver tight sea between the drilling means an the casing head a split ring 28 of lead or other suitable packing material is placed between the lower surface of the nut 16 and the upper surface of the breech block 9. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that by screwing the nut 16 in place on the sealing attachment 21 not only is a very tight seal efi'ected between the said attachment and the breech block at the upper and lower ends of the breech block but the drilling means are supported in elevated position by the breech block and casing head. To insure a tight acking the upper and lower portions of t e packing ring 28 and the surfaces of the nut 16 and of the breech block contacting therewith are desirably inclined, as shown. The enlargement 24 acts as a bafile to the returns from the well to thereby reduce the destructive efi'ect thereof upon the sealing material between the sealing device and the breech block.

To permit control of the returns assing back through the drillin means a ba 1 valve 30 may be employed. 'fhe ball as shown is located within the nipple 19 and during normal operation of the apparatus rests on a suitable cross member 30? which is placed a short distance beneath the valve seat 30 By this construction the material pumped down throu h the nipple 19 is permitted to pass the balf valve wit out being obstructed ositionnuance By the latter, but when back pressure from e well occurs the ball valve 80 is forced up against the valve seat 80 by the returns flowing upwardl through the nipple 19- The pressure is t us effectively shut off and the stem 17 may be safely disconnected from the nipple 19, the section 17 from the ump being replaced by an elbow or T-hea 30, the drain lines 30 from which may be provided with the usual valves as shown for example at 5 on the pipe or conduit 4.

In order to permit the back pressure to.

escape from the interior of the drilling means there is provided a valve operating member preferably in the form of a movable pin 31 which may be screw threaded as shown. The pin is made of less diameter than the interior of the valve seat 30' and of sufficient length to displace the ball valve from its seat. Vhen the head 30 has been secured to the nipple 19 the operating mem- 'ber 31 is moved into engagement with the ball of the ball valve 30 to displace the ball from its seat thereb allowing the pressure to escape through e head 30. After the pressure is relieved the head 30" may be removed and the pipe section 17 replaced for further operation of the drilling mechanism. The parts will be in the positions as shown in Fig. 1 durin the normal drillin opera tion. During t 's operation the s lit packing ring 28 may be omitted and the nut 16 rests freely on to of the breech block 9. As soon as there 13 strong evidence of gas, salt water or oil, or a combination of these. the drilling means are elevated until the sealing portion 25 of the attachment 21 comes into sealing contact with the breech block 9. This sealing having been effected. the driller is able to control the flow of the returns from the hole or well b means of the valve 5 on the return line. y continuing the pumping of the mud through the apparatus, the gas, oil and water may be permitted to flow off under control until the pressure is sufiiciently relieved, after which the tools may be dropped back into the hole and the further drilling proceeded with. This sealed arrangement of parts is shown in Fig. 2. In case of severe pressure, however, it is desirable to screw the nut 16 on to the threads 26 on the u per portion of the sealing attachment and down on the packing ring 28, as shown in Fig. 3. After this the portion of the drilling means above the valve 30 may be detached and the pressure released either through the drill stem or through the return line 4 or both.

It will be seen that with our invention it is possible to effect a seal between the easing and the drilling means during the drilling operations with the assistance of no, or practically no, equipment other than that actually used in the drilling.

It is to be understood that various changes including a detachable closure member, and

ma be made in the construction shown wit out departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus, described our invention, what we claim as new and-desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a. casing head and drilling means movable relatively to the casing head and comprising a drill and itssupport, of means including a part carried by the drilling means and movableupwardly therewith into contact with the said head to effect a seal between the head and the drilling means.

2. The combination with a casing head drilling means passing movablythrough said closure member and comprising a drill and its support, of means including an en-- largement on said drilling. means movable' upwardly therewith into contact with said closure'member to 'efl'ect a seal between the head and the drilling means.

3. The combination with a casing head in-.

cluding a closure and drilling means movable relatively to said head and including a drill support extending through said closure, of means for efi'ecting a seal between said drilling means and said head, said sealing means including an enlargementv upon said drilling means below said closure and a member detachably connected to said drilling means above'said' closure.

4. The combination with a casing head and drilling means movable within the cas ing head and comprising a drill and its $25- port, of asealing member carried by thedr ing means, a member normally disconnected from said first named member but adapted to be connected thereto to support the drilling means from the casing'head, and packing material between one of said members and the head adapted to be secured in operative relation thereto by said normally disconnected member.

5. The combinationwith a casing head and drillin means movable relatively to the casing bee and comprisinga drill inits support, of means including a. ring connected to the drilling means and having a bearing surface and packing material be-' hollow support there 7. The .combination of a casinghead, and drilling means movable in the head, said head comprising a body :and -:a-- detachable closure member connected to said body by an interrupted thread and through which the means between said member and body.

"8. The combination of arcasing head comprising a'lbody, :a detachable closure member for the body, sealing means between the .-drilling means pass movably, and sealingclosure member and body, operating means...

passing movably through the-closure member, and means-including a member carried by the operating means for forming :a seal betweeng the operating means and closure member.

9. The combination of a casing head comprising a body, a detachable closure member for the body sealing means between the closure member and ody, operating means passing movably through the closure member, and means for forming a seal between the operating means and closure member,

including a'membercarried by the operatin means and ;a member detachably connec to said last namedmember and arranged to be sup pplrted by said casinglhead. 1 10.

e combination of a casing head comprising a body, a detachable closure .bo y,

memberfor the sealin means between the closure member and dy, operating means passing movably throughthe closure member, and means for forming a "sealbe- Y tween the operating means and closure member including-a member-carried by the oper-- ating means. a supporting member detachnamed member and sealing material between said closure member and :said supporting member.

11. 'The combination with .a casing head, drilling means movable 'in the head, and means for supporting the drilling means in elevated position includin a member supported b the casing head and detachably connecte to the drilling means, said drillably and adjumzably connected to said last Y V ing means passing freely through said memher during the drilling operation.

12. The combination with a casing head and operating means movable therethrough, of means for eii'ecting a seal between said head and operating means comprising an enlargement on said operating means and a cooperating member carried by said head and arranged to be contacted by the enlargement .upon upward movement of the operating means from operating position.

.13. The combination with-a casing head and drilling means movable-relatively to the casing head and comprising a drill and a or, of means including a part carried by the drilling means and movable upwardly therewith :into contact with the said head to effect a seal between the head and the drilling'means, and

a valve within said drill support, said valve opening to permit material to be passed downwardly through said support but olosing automatically when material tends to I pass 11 wardly through said support.

14. n combination with a hollow drilling apparatus, an operating member detachably connected to said apparatus, a valve mounted within said apparatus to control 10 the flow therethrough, a manually operated valve controlling member adapted to be secured to said apparatus to control the position of said valve.

In testimony whereof. I have signed my name to this s)ecifieation. 16

N CIIOLAS O. WATSON.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ARTHUR T. BEAZLE Y. 

